I recently watched a Ted Talk by Saul Griffith that talked about using kites to generate power and energy.
The On-going Energy and Climate Crisis:
As of 2021, the energy market has been undergoing a massive blow. Some factors that contribute to the cause are: the natural gas prices increasing due to the Russia and Ukraine War, increasing inflation, and disrupted supply chains. What makes this current crisis stand out is the fact that now the world is more dependent on oil and fracking, rather than the previous dependency on gas. Additionally, global warming has only made this situation worse.
The Kite Connection:
Kites have been known as simply objects used for children's play nowadays. However, Saul Griffith explains that with a mass-scale kite, engineers can generate enough power in the atmosphere to power almost five households. The reasoning behind this invention is due to the fact that windmills currently are shockingly not placed high enough into the windiest layer of the atmosphere.
My Thoughts:
After watching this TedTalk, I realized just how many possibilities of solutions can be formed to solve issues in today's environment. Something as normal as a kite can be used to create such a revolutionary change. Not only will these massive kites churn out more power by accessing windier environments, but they will also be more cost efficient to produce. Ever since I stumbled upon this video I realized something that all of you should reflect on: we continually take everyday objects, or even moments for granted. These simple, everyday tools can be the key to a greener future. I am very excited to hear more research and updates on the progress of this innovation being integrated into the market and hope to see one of these kites flying in a few years.
